A Basket of Chips: An Autobiography

Basket of Chips, page 150

A Basket of Chips Paris. I am also exhibiting an etching and an oil in New York City at the National Arts Club, 15 Gramarcy Park, where I am a member. About three years ago I was appointed Head of the Art Department at the University of Utah." I installed an etching press, and established a class in color etching, the only instruc- tion of its kind in the United States.' I am anticipating a great amount of happiness that I never looked for or expected. LAE is the symbol I am now painting in all my pictures before I sign my name. It means LAE "To Laugh- ing or Loving Eyes" (the A is the French "to") my wife-to-be. Her name is Ione Godwin, a student, majoring in Literature at the University of Utah.' Ione shares my major interests and looks at life with the same philosophy and delight. In a letter to Ione last summer, I wrote: How wonderful and strange it is. Forty years ago in August, I crossed this water and daily wrote a similar letter. The same feel- ings, but yet so mature now and seasoned with life experiences which should give greater wisdom and force to the union to come. In that forty years many mistakes happened, causing regrets and the wish that it could be remedied. Behold the spell of a magic wand is created and again I am to be tested the life of youth with a blessed love mate to be mine. From the time your eyes cast a spell or thrill over me, standing in the doorway of my office (I could 5 Harwood's studio work did not really begin again in earnest until late 1925. It was teaching and a greater involvement in art education as a profes- sional pursuit that he was concerned in after his return to Salt Lake City from San Francisco. 6 The Art Department of the University of Utah received as a gift the "portable etching press . . . originally owned by James Taylor Harwood . . . . the very skilled creator of exquisitely rendered etchings during his long and suc- cessful career . . . Harwood gave this small press to another of his students, Raymond E. Chugg . . . . Mr. Chugg's recent gift of this Harwood press to the Department is therefore much appreciated, and it will remain on view . . . as an interesting object related to our program's past." The press has been on display in the Alvin Gittins Gallery, Department of Art, University of Utah since 1.981. Robert S. Olpin, Exhibit label for etching press, 1981. 7 Ione, who became Harwood's wife the following year, resides in Honolulu, Hawaii. She was Harwood's collaborator/editor/typist in the preparation of the C&r typescript and has been very helpful in the preparation of this book. 150